Christmas 2009

Hope you enjoy watching us celebrate Christmas 2009!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Merry Christmas!

Today I am thankful for my blessed life! Wishing everyone, near and far, a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween 2009

I finally downloaded pictures from my camera from Halloween. We got a lot of use out of Isabella's Dalmatian costume this year. We went trick-or-treating at out local shopping plaza; went to Boo at the Cleveland Zoo with other Guattots, Grandma Mary, Papa Steve and Aunt Julie; visited neighbors at our place with the Dowlers; and went trick-or-treating with her cousins at Grandma Sue's and Papa Al's house. We painted pumpkins, passed out treats at the Harvest Party at school and visited a pumpkin patch with Isabella's preschool class.

Yes, we are alive

With everyone on Facebook, I sometimes feel that the blog is outdated. By the time I think to write a blog post, I've already spilled the news on Facebook or Twitter. But I know I want to keep the blog; I just don't know what it's purpose will be as I move forward.

That said, for those who may not be on Facebook or Twitter, I'm recovering from, yes another, back surgery. Isabella and I are staying with my parents while I'm in therapy because our house has too many stairs. I'm working from home since I have such a flexible job with the university. In fact, everyone at the office has been so accommodating. I'm truly blessed to work there.

Isabella started her second year of preschool a few weeks ago and loves it. She will begin bible school next weekend. She's still active in gymnastics and swimming, and we're looking for another sport to try this winter.

If you need to catch up with us between blog posts, visit me on Facebook - Jennifer Gaylord Kramer. Thanks for checking in!

Animal Kingdom

Grab some popcorn!

Animal Kingdom (July 2009)

Vaction Day #2 - Magic Kingdom

We got to go on rides, meet characters and princesses, see parades and play in the rain. Then we had fun swimming and eating dinner and ice cream with family in Florida. This is a day I wish we could repeat!

Magic Kingdom (July 2009)

Day One - Downtown Disney

The day we flew to Florida we visited Downtown Disney after checking in at the resort.

Getting in the plane in Akron

Waiting for take off
Waiting for the bus to pick us up in Orlando

Checking in. Bella got the royal treatment since we were there to celebrate her birthday.

Bella wanted to stay at the Dalmatian Hotel. Here's Perdita guarding our building.
Mickey left her his mark on her bed.
Lucky was outside our building.

Waiting to be seated at the Rainforest Cafe.Picture with Dad

The princesses are in paradise.

Lego Dalmatian

Riding the Mery-go-Round

Safe and Sound

We're home after a nearly two week trip to Florida. More than 1,000 pics to upload, categorize and label. So check back in a few days for highlights from our trip.

Swimming Lessons

Isabella is enjoying her newest level of swimming lessons. Maybe it's because she's one-on-one with the instructor. Instead of canceling the class after only Isabella enrolled, the center allowed her to work solo with the teacher. She progressed much quicker with the undivided attention.

Guatemala 900 Media Coverage

Parents protest delays in adopting Guatemalan kids - Americas - MiamiHerald.com
Source: www.miamiherald.com
When Rhonda Felgenhauer and her husband Phil decided to adopt a second baby in Guatemala, she never thought the process would take her to Washington, D.C. to protest what has became a torturous and expensive ordeal of securing the legal rights to their daughter, Julia.


Parents Fight to Have Children Freed From Guatemalan Orphanages - washingtonpost.com
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
More than a year and a half after Paul Kvinda and his wife began what they expected would be a seven-month process to adopt a newborn girl from Guatemala, little Marcela and an estimated 700 other children are languishing in orphanages there as their cases wend through a maze of legal hurdles and...

Guatemala 900 Campaign

Take Notice! The march is today!

The Guatemala 900 Campaign is a SERIES OF ACTIONS that calls attention to the stagnation of the approximately 900 remaining Guatemalan adoptions that were begun before 2008. The Guatemala 900 Campaign asks that the US and Guatemalan governments take immediate steps to deliver timely due process and transparency for the children who wait to join their future families. It is imperative that these cases do not languish while children wait in limbo, losing their childhood one day, month, and year at a time...... We strive to take steps that will ensure all grandfathered cases will be processed to completion by January 31, 2010.

On January 1, 2008, adoptions in Guatemala abruptly changed from a privately run system to a government run entity. The 5000 adoptions that were “in process” at the time were “grandfathered” to finish under the laws in which they began. The childrens’ cases were promised to be expeditiously processed in a timely and reasonable manner, but now almost a year and a half later approximately 900 children are still waiting to join their families.

The Guatemala 900 campaign begins with the “Guatemala 900 March” on June 17 in Washington, DC. Later today there will be a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Guatemalan Embassy in which we will light 900 candles as a voice for the waiting children.

Family friends of a Guatemalan princess are representing us today at the march. Pray for the DiGirolamos and for the 900 children waiting to unite with their forever families.

Her Birthday Day

With so much going on, I haven't posted pics from Isabella's actual birthday day! Here's a short video of the family at dinner, then home for gifts.


Isabella's Birthday 6/8/09

Snow in June?

I'm so tired of cottonwood. Our neighbor to the back has a huge cottonwood tree that "molts" the first few weeks of June every year. They aren't bothered by it, but Isabella and I are miserable from itchy, watery eyes and sneezing.

Zoo Weekend

We had an extended fun, but exhausting, 4th birthday weekend for Isabella. We visited both the Akron and Cleveland Zoos. Special thanks to the Hilkers for joining us at Akron and to Grandmas Mary and Sue who came along to Cleveland. Isabella had a blast!


Zoo Trips Weekend June 2009

The Big Princess Party

Our Guatemalan Princess

Thank you for all the wonderful gifts for Isabella! All the kids seemed to enjoy the day. I can't believe Isabella turns four tomorrow :-(


Isabella's 4th B-day Party 6/6/09

The Princess and the Queen

Happy birthday, Kevin

Kevin turns 33 today! Happy birthday, honey!

We celebrated with his family on Sunday. Watch as he plays with all his girls.

Kevin's Birthday 5/27/09

A Day at the Akron Zoo

We are taking advantage of a long weekend of beautiful weather starting with a day at the Akron Zoo. Enjoy!

A Day at the Akron Zoo 5/24/09

More haircut pics

First Haircut

Can you believe that Isabella almost made it to her fourth birthday without a haircut?! She was terrified, but after months of pep talks, she wanted to have it done. Doesn't she look so scared? (Our family hair stylist, Amy, did the honors. She been cutting my hair for more than 15 years.) She got a sucker and a special stuffed animal as a prize. Mom got a certificate with clippings, too.

Sleepy kid

Since Grandma Mary and Papa Steve are vacationing in North Carolina, Isabella has been with a family friend during the day. Monday was her first day with Miss Tracy, and it did not go well. I picked her up by 2 p.m. and took her to the office with me. By 3 p.m....

Things with Miss Tracy went much better Tuesday. We'll see how today goes!